Hugh McGahan: Danger looms as the Warriors let talent go

We know the Warriors' management are saying that the club won't be signing players from overseas and that they are looking to their development programme to bolster the team. But were they expecting the high number of player departures the club has been experiencing?

To some, the latest potential departure in Francis Meli will not be seen as a great loss. Others may see it differently but the fact another experienced player is leaving the club without significant depth to cover the loss is dicing with disaster.

Manu Vatuvai is Meli's likely replacement but if injury or suspension was to hit, as it does with all clubs, there is a definite shortfall of talent. I have mentioned before that the Warriors can't afford not to have specialists when adversity strikes.

Meli's possible departure along with Stacey Jones, Tevita Latu, Iafeta Paleaaesina and even Karl Temata, means there are big losses to cover. And this is without considering the rumours surrounding Awen Guttenbeil and Monty Betham and their futures at the club.

If they all leave, that would mean up to seven players from this year's top 25.

Where are the replacements coming from?

This experience can't be filled from the development squad or the Bartercard Cup. The only recruit signed to date is Grant Rovelli, who doesn't have any first-grade experience. The Roosters felt that Jamie Soward was a better prospect but Ivan Cleary has had a fair bit to do with Rovelli and, believe me, Ivan is an astute judge of character.

There are still large holes to fill in the Warriors squad for the 2006 season and, unless there are some late season purchases, 2006 will be a struggle.

Another issue is who asked who to leave? Why would the club let a good player who still has a year left on his contract go so easily? We have seen it too many times recently - Ali Lauitiiti, Logan Swann, Vinnie Anderson, Henry Fa'afili, Thomas Leuluai and PJ Marsh, as well as Jones and Meli.

Are people not suspicious of why the club is going down this road and depleting themselves of experience, or is there faith they are heading in the right direction?

It needs to be remembered that the experience they bought last season in Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Nathan Fien and Todd Byrne was because of the lack of experience highlighted in the previous year.

In my opinion, the club is heading in the same direction as it did in 2004.

Apart from Marsh and Latu, players are being dispatched to Europe so as not to bite the club on the backside in future years. We are starting to see a trend similar to that of European clubs and their use of the player transfer system. Clubs sign a player knowing they will release him from his contract prior to it expiring so they can control when and where he goes.

Players and agents beware: before signing contracts with the Warriors, especially if you're a local player, know you may not always be playing in the NRL.

Fans should also be aware that this approach can backfire. If the club asks the player to go and they can't secure a deal worth more or the same than he is currently receiving, then the Warriors supplement the difference, which is still counted in the salary cap. This is a dangerous move if they try to play hard ball with a player.

So if, as a fan, you hear the club announce it cannot keep or purchase players because of salary-cap restrictions, you can look at the bigger picture and have an understanding as to why.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY